AUS vs IND: 1st Test Review – Hazlewood, Cummins help hosts take a 1-0 lead
When people awaited a dreamy start ahead of the much-hyped Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the Indian team touched new lows. Hosts Australia proved to be too good for India in the opening Test at the Adelaide Oval, particularly the pace bowlers who wrapped up the match inside three days. With a deserving win in the pink-ball Test, Australia have taken an early 1-0 lead in the four-Test series.
As it happened
After winning the toss on Day 1, Virat Kohli and company came in to bat first, where the skipper’s innings of 74 runs remained the only bright spot in India’s batting setup. If it weren’t for the mix-up between Kohli and his deputy Ajinkya Rahane, 2020 could’ve well seen at least one century from the Indian skipper’s willow. But it wasn’t to be. Rahane himself couldn’t survive longer, with the Indian team eventually folding for 244 in their first innings.
The second day went all in India’s favour as the bowlers brought their A-game to the table. The trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav, and Ravi Ashwin got under the skin of the hosts. Ashwin bagged a four-wicket haul to end the Australian innings on 191 runs. Talking about their batting, Tim Paine acted like a class skipper and came out to score an unbeaten knock of 77 runs to push his team forward.
Tables turned
The game, which entirely looked in India’s favour by the end of day 2, had something terrible left, and it unfolded on the third day. Despite having a lead of over 50 runs, the Indian batters showed no intent to dominate the game. The entire team was bundled out on mere 36 runs, a sight that became unbelievable for Indian fans. India registered its lowest ever Test total in its Test cricket history – an infamous record no Indian will want to remember. The last time India struggled in this range was in the year 1974, where India posted 42 runs on the board against England.
The highlight of Day 3 was the lethal combination of Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins running through the Indian batting line-up, as they bagged five and four wickets respectively. Hazlewood was particularly impressive, reaching the landmark of 200 Test wickets and almost getting a Test hat-trick at one point. There wasn’t anything left for the Aussie batters to take up. The opening pair of Matthew Wade and Joe Burns (51*) pushed the team over the line in an effortless manner. Australia won the one-sided affair by eight wickets wherein their skipper Tim Paine was declared as the player of the match.
